You can preorder the new fitness band now for $249, available on October 30.

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NEW YORK—The first generation Microsoft Band was a surprise success: a competent fitness wearable with a wealth of sensors at a decent price. It was a little bulky, however, and a little uncomfortable.

But today Microsoft is addressing those issues with the next iteration of the tracker, the new Microsoft Band. The device retains the same basic design: a thin wrist band with a narrow screen, but that screen is now curved and appears easier to wear.

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Microsoft said in its presentation that the company tried its best to incorporate customer feedback into this new band, especially in its design. Now it has no " edges" or "shoulders" that could impact its comfort level, and the AMOLED display has been optimized for a curved design. The touchscreen display is also reinforced with Gorilla Glass to make it scratch-resistant, which will come in handy as you tap and swipe it to interact with apps and use the tiny on-screen keyboard.

The new Microsoft Band maintains the major features of the original: built-in GPS for mapping runs, continuous optical heart rate monitor, UV monitoring, Cortana integration, and Guided Workouts from various fitness experts and gym partners. Microsoft added a barometer to the Band's ever-growing sensor list, which is used to measure altitude and will be useful for hikers and cyclists on different types of terrain. Microsoft also added golf to its list of tracked workouts, including shot detection to monitor your swinging progress.

Another interesting feature is VO2 max, or the maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in at one time during exercise. For serious athletes, this measurement tells them a lot about their overall fitness level but also helps them train for big events like marathons or triathlons. While you can attempt to calculate Vo2 max for yourself, it's usually measured professionally using a treadmill and oxygen intake equipment.

The new, curvier Microsoft Band.

A snapshot of the many sensors inside the new Microsoft Band.

Cortana integration lets Windows Phone users speak to the new Band.

The new barometer will track altitude when you exercise on high terrain.

VO2 Max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in during exercise.

Microsoft Health is the companion program for the Band, available for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

Microsoft Health dashboard on a PC.

Golf tracking is now possible on the Microsoft Band.

Microsoft Health on a PC.

A bunch of third-party apps that are compatible with the new Microsoft Band.

The new Microsoft Band 2.

We can only speculate that the new Microsoft Band takes the time and distance of a specific workout, as well as your heart rate measurements during that time, and uses those numbers to calculate VO2 max. We'll have to test this feature for accuracy once we get our hands on a Band, but as with other fitness metrics, this measurement should be taken with a grain of salt since there will likely be some margin of error.

According to Microsoft's Band website, the new Band should get up to two days of battery life on a single charge. As usual, heavy GPS activity will shorten this time, and we're interested to see how VO2 max calculations and heavy Cortana and notification usage impact battery life as well.

One of the best things about both the original and new Microsoft Bands is that their companion app, Microsoft Health, works across Android, iOS, and Windows devices. It's one of the few fitness devices that works on all three major platforms. It's also compatible with third-party fitness apps including MyFitnessPal and, most recently, LoseIt!, an app that lets you track food and calorie intake to help you lose weight.

The new Microsoft Band costs $249 and is available for preorder today. It will officially go on sale on October 30.

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Valentina Palladino
Valentina reviews consumer electronics for Ars Technica, testing all kinds of gadgets with a focus on mobile devices and wearables. She has a soft spot for Chromebooks. Twitter@valentinalucia